Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit – System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-08-28
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit
System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
C198S480100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279725
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of rotor machines having a plurality of radially extending spokes or arms to hold objects such as bottles therebetween as the rotor assembly is rotated around a circular path to one or more processing stations, such as a washing station, a rinsing station, a filling station and so forth in the case of bottles and any other kind of processing operation in the case of other objects. The invention comprises a structure by which the separation distance between spoke assemblies can be adjusted to receive and hold bottles or other objects of different diameters or cross-sections therebetween. The separation distance can be increased for those having larger diameters and cross-sections and decreased for those having smaller diameters or cross-sections. The invention is particularly appropriate for use in bottle washing, rinsing and filling machines, but the invention disclosed and described herein can be used in any kind of rotor machine
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior art of which the inventor is aware includes a number of rotor type bottle washing machines, some of which have been assigned to the assignee of the invention disclosed herein, and a number of rotor type machines used for holding and carrying other types of products around a circular path to different locations where a variety of operations are performed on or in connection with such products. Such prior art of which the inventor in this case is aware include the following, none of which include the feature of being able to easily and quickly adjust the separation distance between respective spokes to receive and hold therebetween bottles or other objects of differing diameters or differeing cross-sectional dimensions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,086 in which Garret McBrady and Julian Avelis are joint inventors discloses a bottle filling machine that comprises a vertical rotary spoke assembly having valve and delivery components which deliver pressurized air and/or rinse water to the bottles while in the upside down position through the upper portion of the vertical path of rotation and deliver whatever liquids the bottles are to be filled with while they are in the right-side-up position throughout the lower portion of the vertical rotational path.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,810 in which William J. McBrady is the inventor discloses a bottle washer machine in which bottles are washed, emptied and dried as they are rotated in a vertically positioned circular path.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,123 in which William J. McBrady is the inventor discloses a bottle washing machine similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,810.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,159,164 in which Joseph K. McBrady is the inventor, discloses a container cleaning machine which is similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,944,810 and 3,159,164.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,747 discloses a high speed rotary filling machine in which containers are rotated through a circular path during which they are filled from a filling head which rotates with the containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,634 discloses a device for filling individual receptacles with a metered quantity of a flowable material. The material is fed by gravity into containers below.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,124 discloses a machine for handling ampules and the like during the washing, drying, sterilizing, filling and sealing operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,218,315 discloses a machine for filling cylindrical oackages or cans with pulverulent material as they are carried around a curvilinear path.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,811,908 discloses a combined drainer and siruper for use in the canning industry and particularly for packing fruits and berries, which includes a totatable wheel having a plurality of turrets for holding the cans, and means to support the turrets in the plane of rotation during part of the revolution of the wheel and to move the turrets in a plane radial of the wheel and out of the plane of rotation during another part of the rotation.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,202,171 discloses a fruit can draining machine comprising a rotary spoke assembly, vertically movable arms pivoted thereto, a cap to support a can in place on each arm, and a cam assembly to turn the cans below the horizontal to drain kiquids therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,094,380 discloses a process for use in sterilizing milk bottles as they are carried on a conveyor line.
U.S. Pat. No. 955,551 discloses a bottling machine having a plurality of carriers to receive bottles for washing, filling, closing and labeling while in the carriers, and an intermittent drive mechanism to move the carriers from station to station with intervals of non-movement for processing.
U.S. Pat. No. 837,559 discloses a fruit washing machine to wash fruit after being placed in cans, comprising a tiltable carrier in which cans are clamped and guide members which invert the cans during travel after which they are moved back to an upright position.
U.S. Pat. No. 722,263 discloses an apparatus for bottling liquids, including a carrier rotatable in a vertical plane having transverse rows of bottle holders, the carrier being rotated beneath bottle filling tubes, and a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the tubes for inserting into and withdrawing from the bottles.
U.S. Pat. No. 522,396 discloses a machine for mixing gases with liquids such as carbonating beverages, comprising a bottle supporting frame rotated with a hollow rotating shaft in which gas is flowed under pressure, and a check valve mechanism connected to charge the liquid filled bottles with gas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a significant improvement over prior art rotor machines having radially spaced apart spokes to receive and hold bottles or other items therebetween as they are rotated around a circular path to the various stations where the different processing operations are performed. The prior art machines of that type can only be used with bottles or other products having a particular diameter or cross-sectional dimension without major changes that require removal of the existing spokes and other parts and replacing with new parts. It is an object and feature of the present invention to provide a rotor machine having a plurality of radially extending and arcuately spaced apart spoke assemblies in which the separation distance between the spoke assemblies can be easily increased or decreased to receive and hold therebetween bottles and other items of different diameters and cross-sections without removing any parts and without installing any new or different parts.
The separation distance between adjacent spoke assemblies can be readily increased or decreased by simply loosening four bolts that secure a circular plate in place to which adjustable spokes are connected. The adjustable spokes overlie fixed spokes that are connected to the axle of the rotor when the adjustable spokes are closest to the fixed spokes. At that time, the separation distance from the next adjacent adjustable spoke assembly is greatest for use with the largest diameter bottles or other items the rotor machine can receive.
When the bolts are loosened to permit rotation of the circular plate the distance permitted by arcuate slots in the plate through which the bolts extend, the circular plate and adjustable spokes connected thereto can then be rotated relative to the corresponding fixed spokes in each adjustable spoke assembly to arcuately move the adjustable spokes away from their respective fixed spokes. The farther the adjustable spokes are moved arcuately away from their corresponding fixed spokes, the smaller the separation distance between adjacent spoke assemblies to receive therebetween bottles or other items of smaller diameter or smaller cross-sectional dimension. To hold the adjustable spokes securely in whatever adjusted position desired, the four bolts through the arcuate slots of the circular plate are tightened to hold it and the adjustable spokes connected thereto in place.
In accordance with this invention, the adjustable spokes are arcuately movable or adjustable from their corres
Avelis Julian
McBrady Garrett
Bidwell James R.
Kettelson Ernest
McBrady Engineering, Inc.
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